Ethno Wallonia-Brussels 2025

ETHNO WALLONIA-BRUSSELS 2025 – second edition!

🎶 Discover and immerse yourself in the vibrant world of traditional music with Ethno!

An exceptional opportunity for young musicians up to the age of 30.

ETHNO WORLD is an emblematic program of Jeunesses Musicales International, created in 1990 and now present in over 40 countries worldwide. It showcases the world’s folk and traditional music, bringing together young talent to preserve this precious cultural heritage while encouraging spontaneous creativity.

Supported by Jeunesses Musicales Wallonie-Bruxelles, Ethno Wallonia-Brussels is a week-long residential workshop. Some twenty musicians from the 4 corners of the globe, guided by two experienced artistic mentors, share and teach each other, in keeping with the oral tradition, musical pieces from their respective cultures. Each participant or delegation proposes a musical piece (vocal and/or instrumental) to the group, creating a cultural and musical exchange of the highest human value. The residency will take place from August 16 to 25, 2025, as part of the Les Polysons Festival in Huy, the Hide and Seek Festival in Brussels and Les Sentiers de Sart-Risbart, during which the participants will present an original repertoire. The event will receive extensive media coverage. 

Program 

• Cultural transmission: a week of sharing with participants from all over the world – workshops, concerts, jams, etc. 
• Artistic coaching: benefit from the expertise of two experienced artistic mentors.
• Concerts: concerts organized in collaboration with renowned festivals in Belgium

Artistic mentors 

Josefien Vercruysse is a passionate flutist and folk singer. With a master’s degree in flute, chamber music and pedagogy from LUCA (Leuven College of the Arts, 2015), she teaches, conducts a choir and leads workshops. She has taken part in several editions of ETHNO WORLD (Flanders, Estonia, Croatia), sharing her energy and know-how with artists from all over the world. After a memorable first edition as artistic mentor, Josefien enthusiastically returns for Ethno Wallonia-Brussels 2025.

Dave Gray, hailed as “the smiliest man in folk” by BBC- Radio 2’s Mark Radcliffe, is a talented melodeon (two-tone diatonic accordion) player and passionate teacher. A music graduate of Newcastle University, he returned as a teacher in 2022 and was recently appointed Artistic Director of the Folkworks Adults Summer School at the Glasshouse in Gateshead, England.  Dave has worked with many Ethno artists as an artistic mentor and is looking forward to joining the adventure.

Practical Information

• Dates: Saturday, August 16 – Monday, August 25, 2025

• Accommodation & Workshops: Internat Val Notre-Dame, Wanze (www.valnotredame.com/fr), a peaceful retreat near the historic city of Huy, Belgium.

• Accommodation: double rooms (participants should bring sheets, a pillowcase, a sleeping bag/duvet, and a pillow).

• Meals: All meals are prepared on-site, with unlimited coffee/tea.

• Instruments: Participants must bring their own instruments.

📢 Applications

• Open to all musicians, aged 18 to 30.
• Participation fee: €280 (VAT included) – covering accommodation, meals, and workshops.
• Travel and visa costs are not included.
• Visa assistance available – contact wb@ethno.world for an invitation letter.

🔗 Apply now via Mubazar:
👉 https://mubazar.com/en/opportunity/ethno-wallonia-brussels-2025

📩 Contact / Information: Laura Nilges – wb@ethno.world

👥 Follow Us on Social Media

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethnowalloniabrussels/
📘 Facebook: www.facebook.com/EthnoWallonieBruxelles

Ethno World mobility call: support for travel and participation costs for an Ethno in the world. Registration for this call for mobility in no way guarantees support for participation in Ethno Wallonia-Brussels.

https://mubazar.com/en/opportunity/ethno-mobility-grant-2025/?fbclid=IwY2xjawH_BDFleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHTwaaxmNXY0F8NHGRRoGWZbzrWH52wThqfMoNebfa17zXh95e0fNMVjQwA_aem_mOpa0hJu4eosST6NpMNXUQ

🎶 Join us for an unforgettable musical journey at Ethno Wallonia-Brussels 2025! 🎶✨